Man shot in both legs in ‘savage attack’

A 23-year old man has been shot in both legs in the Brandywell area of Derry.

Derry’s top police officer, PSNI Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan, described the shooting, which took place at around 11pm last night in a house at Brandywell Road, as a “savage attack.”

The 23-year old victim had been shot several times. He was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital. The PSNI believe at least two gunmen were involved.

Chief Inspector Callaghan said the man was shot in the femurs of both legs. He said the victim could have been killed.

“Even by the brutal standards of previous similar incidents, this was a particularly savage attack. Early indications are that this man has sustained particularly severe wounds with potentially life-changing injuries.

“This was not what some people call a ‘kneecapping’. This young man has sustained gunshot wounds to his femurs – a particularly dangerous part of the body in which to inflict gunshot wounds.

“There can be little doubt that these injuries could have killed, indeed there have been other incidents in which fatalities have occurred in similar circumstances.

“We believe that at least two gunmen were involved in the incident, which occurred in the living room of a house at Brandywell Road. The suspected gunmen made their getaway on foot.

“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area and heard or saw anything relevant to the shooting. In particular we would like to trace the movements of the gunmen before and after the incident. If you have any information, no matter how small, please call the detectives at Strand Road on 101, or, alternately, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.”